fowler



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. FOWLER. BBDSTEAD FASTENING.

Patented July 11, 1842.

w W m JOHN FOWLER, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

' BEDSTEAD-FASTENINGQ Specification a Letters Patent No. 2,715, datedJuly 11, 1842.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN Fownnn, ofPittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Fastening the Joints v ofBedsteads, which is described as follows, reference being had to theannexed drawings of the same, making part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan of the key. Fig. 2 is a plan of the key hole plate.Fig. 3 is an edge view of ditto. Fig. 4' is a perspective View of thekey and plate connected. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the key andplate and ofpart of the rail and fastened. 1

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts.

The nature of my invention and improvement consists in fastening eachjoint of the bedstead by a metallic key and plate of a peculiarconstruct-ion, so that it can be put up or taken down in a few momentswith a very slight exertion andwhen put together making the joints veryclose and firm.

The key lettered B in Figs. 1, l, and 5 is a cylindrical bar of castiron or other metal let into the end of the rail K and secured thereinby a pin 9 passed through the rail post to which they are and key at aand by means of wings Z) 6 let into corresponding cavities in the rail,which hold it firmly, said key having two beveled cogs 0 0 cast on itnear the outer extremity thereof which engage or gear with two segmentinclined planes 6 0 cast on the inner face of the plate fastened to thepost and also having the outer end of said key extended beyond the saidcogs forming a cylindrical end f which enters a correspondingcylindrical cavity in the post for increasing the security and stiffnessof the fastening.

The inner sides of the cogs c are beveled at z to correspond with theinclined planes 6 of the segmentsthat is the sides 2' Fig. 1 next theinclined planes 0 of the'plate A are sloped in reverse order and at thesame angle of inclination as the inclined planes 0 e. The aperture inthe end of the rail to receive the key may be bored with a common auger.

The inclined planes 6 e are formed on a circular hub projecting from theface of the plate A, in the following manner. Draw a line through thecenter or across the diameter of this hub which will divide it into twosemi circular segments. Slope or bevel one of these segments from theface of the plate to the outer end of the hub, forming an inclined planeof about 10 degrees with the said plate. Slope the other segment in asimilar manner, but in an opposite or reversed direction. The plate A ismade circular so that the aperture in the post L to receive it may beboredbeing a more convenient form than square which would requiremortising. In the center is an aperture (Z corresponding with the shapeof the end of the key and cogs. The segment inclined planes 6 are caston the face of the platejnext the cavity in the post in which the cogsturn in reversed order in the manner above described; The plate A issecured in the post by screws j passed through the apertures h. The holein the post to receive the cylindrical end f of the key f is also bored.The end of the key fits this'hole exactly.

To fasten the end of the rail to the post insert the key into the holecl in'the center of the hub and circular plate A, the outer extremity fbeing in the hole in the post corresponding therewith. Then turn therail sligl1tly.this movement brings the inclined planes 2' of the cogs cc in contact with the reversed segments or inclined planes 6 e and theseplanes acting upon the cogs c 0 on the principle of the screw or wedgedraw the end of the rail firmly against the post. Each end of the railis provided with a key constructed as above described; and each side ofeach post corresponding therewith is provided with a circular plateconstructed as before described.

The ends of the pin 9 are concealed from view by plugs of wood insertedinto the aperture in the rail.

I do not claim to be the original inventor of the method of fasteningthe ends of rails to the posts of bedsteads by having sections of screwson the ends of the rails and corresponding cavities in the posts andturning the rails in order to draw the parts together, but

What I do claim as my invention and which I desire to secure by LettersPatent 1s 1. The construction of the key B with a cylindrical end fbeyond the cogs .c 0 for entering a circular cavity in the bottom of themortise in the post for strengthening the joint as before described.

2. Constructing the circular cast plate A With reversed segment inclinedplanes 6 e and arranged in the manner and for the puragainst which thecogs c 0 of the key act in pose set forth.

drawing the rail and post together as de- JOHN FOWLER scribed. 5 3.Securing the rails and posts of bed- Witnesses:

steads by means of separate castings of a VVM. P. ELLIOTT,

circular and cylindrical form constructed EDMOND MAHER.

